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Cloth Plaitin'g Attachment for Sewing Machines.

Patented'luly 2t, 1868.

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Letters Patent No. 80,243, dated July 21, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN OLOTH-PLAITIN G ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING-MAUHINES.

(the some nor-eh In in flgesr Ztrttrrs new amt making part of the same.

TO'ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: H

Be it known that I, SYDNEY D. TUCKER, of the city of Troy, county of Rensselaer, and Stateof New York, have invented a new and useful Machine for Plaiting Linen or Cotton Cloth, and that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of my said invention, reference being-had. to the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, are hereby made a part of this specification.

Like letters represent and-refer to like or corresponding parts.

Figure 1 represents the device used by me, in plaiting shirt-fronts, for laying the first or centre plait.

Figure 2 shows the same device, with the cloth passing through the same as when in operation.

Figure 3 shows my invention in operation, as the same is used upon shirt-fronts after the centrelait is laid, and uponother work with narrow folds. 1

Figure 4 shows the same device without the cloth, setting forth the several parts more clearly.

Figure 5 represents the same device, with the top plate removed. a V i Figure 6 shows one of the folders used'for shaping the cloth, and breaking the stiffness of the same.

Figure 7 is a view of thc upper plate of the machine.

Figure 8 shows my said invention trained for plaiting skirts and other work where wide plaits are required; and i Figure 9 represents the guide used for laying wide plaits, as'aforesaid.

In the plaiters heretofore invented, the cloth remains smooth and stifi up to about the point where the plait is-actually laid, giving it a strong tendency to run irregularly, and requiring the constant attention of skil'ful operatives to make the plaits uniform and even.

I claim that by this invention I have substantially obviated these defects.

The nature of my invention consists in the employment of several devices for breaking down the stiffness of the cloth, and shaping and guiding the smile at points some distance from the place where the pluit is actually folded, substantially as hereinafter described and set forth.

My invention is an improvement on that of Frank A. Allen, patented February 7, 1860, and of which I am the ownerby assignment. p I

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention relates to make and use the same, I will here proceed to describe the construction and operation thereof, which is as follows, towit: I

The difi'erent parts of my invention may be made of brass, or steel, or other suitable metal, and of any size thought desirable. i E V Figs. 1and 2 represent a device used only for. the purpose of folding the centre plait inshirt-fronts, or otherwork where a single wide plait is to be made. I i It consists of the plaitA, which is attached to the table or the sewing-machine by a screw working in the slot B. I

D is simply a common heminer, of a size correspondingto the plait to be turned. A short-distance back of this hemmer is placed the guide c, which consists of a doubled plate of metal bent in the form shown in the drawing. The cloth is passed through this guide, as shown in fig. 2, and is thereby broken and shaped so that i it passes easily'and steadily through the hcmmcr D, and requires very little attention to make'the plait entirely uniform. i

, For any other purpose than laying a single wide plait at the edge of the cloth, I use the device shown in figs.' 3, 4, and 8. i i I G, fig. 5, is ajheavy plate screwed to the table of the sowing-machine, at (2. From one end of this projects the arm W, ending in the thick plate X. Upon the under side of the plate X is fastened the thin plate 9. On the upper side of said plate X is,placed the adjustable plate J, figs. 3, 4, and 8. i

g and It are projections from plate J, and form a part thereof. On the upper side of G is placed the adjustable plate I, moving between the projections g and It and the plate 0.

some 2 It will be seen that the plates G and O are entirely disconnected, so that the cloth eanrun between them and under the plate 0. I I y I For thevpurpose of shaping and guiding the cloth before entering the plaitcr proper, I employ the folders K and L, which are thin plates of metal forming parts of plates 1 and 0. Upon the tips are placed sinnll cylinders, K, to prevent catching the cloth, and to present as little resistance as possible. One of these folders is placed above and a little one side of the other, so that as the cloth passes between them, it is partially folded, its stilfness is broken, and it is in proper shape forgoing through the plaiter. r

In working narrow strips of cloth, as shirt-fronts, I also employ the guide M, which is a vbar of metal folded inthe manner shown in the drawing, and fastened to plate G by a screw, and on which moves the adjustable slide N. This is so adjusted that it rests against the edge of the cloth. as in'fig. 3, and is of great advantage in guiding it in the proper direction.

It is obvious that this guide cannot. be employed when very wide cloth is'used, as in plaiting skirts, &c. In that case I reniove the guide M and'use the device shown at S and 'l, figs. 8 and 9. This is simply a strip of metal, ll, folded longitudinally, 'and fastened to the bar S by a screw. The bar S is also fastened to the plate X by a screw. I

Both the guide T and bar S are adjustable by means of the screws above mentioned. They are used in the following manneri In plaiting wide cloth, after making the first plait, the said guide and guide-bar are adjusted by means of the screws at the proper distance for laying the next plait. Then the folded edge of the plait already made is placed in the guide '1, which is of great advantage ingiving the cloth the right direction in passing through the plaiter.

By these means, I am enabled to dispense with'a great portion of the care and skill heretofore required in the use of machines for plaiting cloth, and I find that it requires but very little skill or previous knowledge of the business to use my invention to excellent advantage.

Having thus described the nature of my said invention and improvements, what I claim as npy invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The folding guide 0, hemmer D, plate A, having the slot, B therein, the whole being constructed,

, arranged, and combined in the manner herein contained, described, and set forth.

' 2. The arm W, supporting plate X, plate J, adjustable plate I K k, and the plate Gr, all andeach constructed and combined and arrangedsubstantially as herein 'set forth.

3. The devices constructed as herein described, and forming a plaiter, in twoparts, and in which the cloth v moves under the plaiter, as shown, the whole being arranged and combined in the manner substantially as herein contained, described, and setfortb. i p p i 4. I also claim the folders K and L, constructed and operated substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore fully described.

i 5. I also claim, in combination with a plaiter, the guide M and slide N, substantially as hereinbefore described and set forth.

6, I also claim the guide-T and guide-bar S, in combination with each other andwith aplait-er, substantially as and for the purposes herein fully described and set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 12th day of February, 1867.

' s. D. TUCKER.

Witnesses:

CHARLES D.- KnLLUM, 7 E. Gowns; 

